Process of producing silicids.



No. 873,328. 'PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907.

E. F. PRICE. 7 v PROCESS OF PRODUCING SILIGIDS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1905'.

Wz'lriesss: Inventor:

' I i a/f/lcca s ATENT rron EDGAR F. PRICE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY or NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or Maw YORK, 'rnus'rns UNDER FIRST MORTGAGE.

PRocEss'oF PRODUCING SILICIDS.

No. erases.

To all whom it concern:

. Be it known that I, EDGAR ,F. -.PRioE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls',;in the countyof Nia era and State of New; York, have invente certain new and useful Im rovements in Processes of Producing Silici s, of 'Which the following is a specification.

In my U. 8. Patent No. 790,391, amed May 23, 1905, I have described a process of smelting an}electrically-conductive char e,

silica andhematite.

The present'invention relates to the pro duction of ferrosilicon and other silicids high in .silicon and contemplates the use of a charge containing such large proportion of" silica as to make it: of relatively low elec- ,trical conductivity. The charge also confrom oxidation.

tains carbon in amount sufiicient to not only effect reduction of the silica but also to protect the carbon electrodes and furnace lining A considerable body of the charge is maintained around the depending electrode or electrodes, and the reduction,

withdrawal of the product and sup(ply of fresh charge-materials are conducte continuous operation.

A suitable electric furnace is shown in the.

accompanying drawings, in whichthefigure is a vertical axial sectionthrough the tapholes, with the depending-electrode inelevation.

The furnace compri es sides 1 of refractory electrically non-conductive material such as carborundum, siloxicon or silica, or of carbon, and a hearth 2 of carbon, the sides and hearth bein surrounded by a metal casing 3 having an e ectric terminal 3. The carbon hearth constitutes one electrode. Th3 other electrode is a depending carbon rod 4. Tapholes 5, 6, for sla and metal, extend through the side wal s at differentheights. ln employing this furnace tocarry out the process, an arc is established between the depending electrode and the carbon hearth. The charge, for example a substantially nonconducting mixture of finely ground silica, iron ore and coke, the silicaand carbon being in relatively large proportion, is then gradually fed into the furnace. until in its normal Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 14. 1905. Serial No. 287.347.

, difi'erent polarity as a prising 1 Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

' Working condition'the depending electrode is embedded, as shown. As the reduction roceeds, molten ferrosilicon collects in the bottom of the furnace and is rim out through the tap-hole 6. If the charge contains impurities, any resulting slag may be withdrawn through the tap-hole 5. I

The use of a char e containin a large percentage of silica mahes it possib e to produce silicids containing fifty percent and upwards of silicon. Such a charge is also substantially a nonconductor of electricity,'so that the Working chamber of the furnace can be filled without shunting the current from the electrodes through the charge. The excess of carbon in the charge facilitates the reduction and protects the electrodes and the continuous mode of operation enables the efii ciency of the furnace to be maintainedat ahigh figure. Metallic iron may be substituted for iron ore in the charge.

The reference in the claims to an alloying metal, specifically iron, is to be understood as coverlngthe metal per se or a compound which will yield the metal. It will be understo'odthat two or more de ending electrodes of the same polarity may e substituted for the one shown, or depending electrodes of may be employed, as well knownintheart. I

1. The process of producing silicids high in silicon, which consists in providing a charge comprising a silicon compound, an alloying metal and carbon, the silicon com' pound being in such porportion as to make the charge of, relatively low electrical C011? ductivity, establishing an arc Within the charge, and surrounding the zone of reduction and protecting the electrodes from the oxidizing'eifect of the atmosphere by a considerable body of the charge, asset forth.

2. The process of producing ferrosilicon high'in silicon, which consists in providing a charge of'low electrical conductivity, com

the si con-compound being in such proportion as to make the chargeof relatively low electrical conductivity, establishing an are within the charge, and' surrounding the zone of reduction and protecting the electrodes from the oxidizing and cooling effect of the atmosphere by'a considerable body of the charge, as set forth.

a silicon compound, iron. and carbon 2 erase" prising a silicon compound, an alloying metal and carbon, the silicon compound being in such proportion as to make the charge of relatively-low electrical conductivity, establishing an are within the charge, surrounding the zone oli reduction and protecting the electrodes from the oxidizing and cooling effect of the atmosphere by a considerable body of the charge, and Withdrawing the product and supplying the charge-mixture as required, as set forth.

4. The process of producing ferrosili con high in silicon, which consists in providing a charge of'low electrical conductivity, comprising a silicon compound, iron and carbon, the silicon compound being in such proportion as to make the charge of relatively lOW electrical conductivity, establishing an are within the charge, surrounding the zone of re duction and protecting the electrodes from the oxidizing and cooling effect of the atmosphere by a considerable body of the charge, and Withdrawing the product and supplying the charge-mixture as required, as set forth.

5. The process of producing silicids containing forty percent and upwards of silicon,

which consists in providinga charge which is substantially a non-condi1ctor of electricity, comprising a silicon compound, an. alloying metal and carbon, establishing anarc Within the charge, surrounding the zone of reduction-and protecting the electrodes from. the

oxidizing and cooling eilect of the atmos phere by a considerable body of the charge, and Withdrawing the product and siwplymg the charge-mixture as required.

6. The process of producing i'crrosilicon 4 containing forty percent and upwards of sili con, which consists in providing a charge which is substantially a non-conductor of electricity, comprising a silicon compound, iron and carbon, establishing an are within the charge, surrounding the zone of reduction and protecting the electrodes from the oxidizing and cooling effect of the atmosphere by a-considerable body of the charge, and Withdrawing the product and supplyingthe charge-mixture as required.

,In testimony whereof, I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR F. PRICE,

Witnesses:

G. E. COX, D. BURGESS. 

